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DEA warns of a deadly ‘zombie drug’ — the facts behind the fear

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:21 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- The Drug Enforcement Agency warned Texans of a drug emerging on the illicit market it said could be even more dangerous than fentanyl.Xylazine is a veterinary tranquilizer used to sedate large animals like horses. State and federal authorities say it is increasingly common to find in other drugs and, when combined with an opioid or fentanyl overdose, increases the chance of death. "It has very, very strong sedative effects. So it can really depress someone's heart rate, depress their breathing, you know, knock them out," Chris Van Deusen with the Texas Department of State Health Services said. "One issue that we have seen with xylazine is it is not an opioid, so it does not respond to treatment with Narcan or Naloxone, which is, of course, that first thing that a provider might try to reverse the effects of an opioid opioid dose."Sen. Chuck Schumer referred to it as a "zombie drug" because of the necrotizing ulcers it can leave after injection.How concerned shoul...

Timberwolves’ gripes with officiating continue

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:21 GMT

The Timberwolves made a concerted effort to dig into the officiating after the team’s 107-100 loss Wednesday in Phoenix, and the timing made sense from multiple perspectives.For Wolves coach Chris Finch, he had witness Phoenix bench boss Monty Williams complain about officiating the week prior, and noticed a perceived payoff in the form of the Suns’ 27 free throws — led by Devin Booker’s 15 — as opposed to Minnesota’s 12 in the game.“It works, because tonight they went to the line 27 times, we went to the line 12 times. So sitting up here and talking about it or whatever must’ve worked for them,” Finch told reporters postgame. “Because this is a team that doesn’t historically draw fouls at the rate they did tonight.”Ahead of the Timberwolves’ titanic home game Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers that has massive implications in the Western Conference playoff race, it couldn’t hurt to send a little message to the referees about Minnesota’s perceived slights.“The free-throw di...

Bills safety Damar Hamlin meets with President Biden after introducing "Access to AEDs Act"

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:21 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin visited the White House, President Joe Biden shared in a tweet Thursday. Hamlin said in his own tweet that was a pleasure and honor meeting the president.On Wednesday, Hamlin helped introduce the "Access to AEDs Act" at Capitol Hill. The bill would increase training and access to AEDs on school campuses in an effort to help protect kids from sudden cardiac arrest. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Hamlin, who went into cardiac arrest during the Bills Jan. 2 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, has continuously raised awareness of the importance of CPR and quick life-saving measures.Following the meeting, the White House released the following statement:Today, the President welcomed Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin and his family to the White House. The President thanked Damar for his courage, resilience, and can-do spirit which has inspired the American people. He com...

‘Ridiculous’: White House rejects espionage charges against Wall Street Journal reporter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:21 GMT

The White House on Thursday rejected espionage charges made by Russia against Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, calling the claims “ridiculous.”“What I can say is the charges against him are ridiculous, we have been very clear about that,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Thursday. “Those are ridiculous and they’re not accurate.”Jean-Pierre would not answer a question about whether Gershkovich has ever worked for the United States government. Russia has claimed Gershkovich was acting on orders from the United States to “collect information about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military industrial complex that constitutes a state secret.”The Journal has also rejected the allegations that Gershkovich was conducting espionage.Jean-Pierre said a process conducted within the State Department would determine if  Gershkovich would be designated as wrongfully detained.“We have to make sure that we get the information. The most impor...

2 wanted in connection with fatal shooting of 14-year-old

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:21 GMT

BERKELEY, Mo. - Two young men are wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of a Berkeley teenager.The shooting happened outside a home in the 6800 block of Larry Lane on the evening of Sunday, March 26. Police found the 14-year-old victim on the front lawn with a gunshot wound to his chest.Berkeley police requested the help of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis. Within days, investigators identified two suspects: Taivion Kirk and LA'Marrion Mathews, both 18.The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office has charged both Kirk and Mathews with first-degree assault and armed criminal action.Kirk and Mathews should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on their whereabouts should contact their nearest law enforcement agency.

Adam Wainwright surprises on Opening Day b singing the national anthem!

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:21 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Adam Wainwright has spent a lot of Opening Days on the mound (six to be exact). For his final one as a player, he drew an assignment he has never had for a St. Louis Cardinals home opener. Wainwright landed on the injured list last week, so he couldn't pitch in the home opener. Instead, he traded his glove for a microphone. To the surprise of the Busch Stadium crowd, he sang the National Anthem. The 41-year-old recently discovered his passion for music and he's challenged himself to take on new heights. He produced 17 studio recordings over the offseason and put on a charity concert through Big League Impact in January. RELATED - What to know for the 2023 St. Louis Cardinals home opener Wainwright's performance of the Star-Spangled Banner followed an electric violin performance of O' Canada to welcome the Toronto Blue Jays. Before that, tens of thousands of fans enjoyed a pregame ceremony with Clydesdales, Cardinals Hall of Famers and car escorts for the Opening Day r...

More information released after small plane crashes in rural Illinois

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:21 GMT

LINCOLN, Ill. (WMBD) - More information has been released by the Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) Thursday after a small plane crashed in Lincoln Wednesday.According to the FAA, two people on board the plane were sent to a hospital in Springfield with non-life-threatening injuries. FAA: Two people on board small plane crash in Lincoln The fixed-wing single-engine aircraft crashed southwest of Logan County airport next to Open Arms Christian Fellowship at approximately 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.The two people in the airplane were completing proficiency training through touch and go's. That's when they take off and land the plane multiple times. On their final touch and go, the plane crashed less than a half mile away from the airport which was its destination.The pilot of the plane was certified and the passenger was a flight instructor.The lead pastor at the church, Larry Crawford, saw the incident and said it was a miracle they are both alive."It looks like the plane what it did wa...

Diversity debate dominates House action on Missouri state budget

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:21 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Democrats argued Thursday that restrictive language barring the state from spending tax dollars on diversity and inclusion initiatives threatens to close charter schools, interrupt delivery of medical services and could even force the Capitol Building to go dark.Each of the 13 bills spending $45.6 billion to run state government in the year beginning July 1 includes the language, as does the supplemental budget bill spending $2 billion to maintain state operations through the end of the current fiscal year.Sponsored by Rep. Doug Richey, R-Excelsior Springs, as floor amendments during initial debate Tuesday, the sweeping language became the focus of hours of debate Thursday as the House sent the budget to the Senate.In a speech defending the language, Richey said it was intended to prevent preferential treatment in state agencies. The goal, he said, is to root out any attempt to implement concepts of critical race theory in state government programs.In ...

Fans packed downtown for Cardinals Opening Day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:21 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Fans filled up downtown St. Louis Thursday afternoon, enjoying the baseball season opening at home for the Cardinals.The pep rally kicked off at Kiener Plaza with games, music, and a few of your favorite KPLR and KTVI personalities stopping by, the city was alive Thursday afternoon before the game.Tickets are still available for the game against the Toronto Blue Jays this weekend, and offering promotional giveaways. Top Stories: Man accused of plowing into officers should not have been driving Fans were also quick to make their way to the ever-expanding Ballpark Village to continue the celebration of what is certainly viewed as a local holiday for many.This season featured great matchups like the Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Angels of Anaheim, to name a few of the teams that 2023 promises to bring to Busch Stadium.With temperatures in the upper 60s and sunshine in St. Louis, all was well as this baseball town awakened from its winter slumber.“I...

RTD’s commuter rail partners appeal ruling that denied $100 million-plus claim

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:21 GMT

The contracting team that built three commuter-rail lines for the Regional Transportation District filed an appeal Thursday of a court ruling denying its claim for the transit agency to cover nearly $112 million in unexpected costs.Denver Transit Partners’ 2018 lawsuit stemmed from problems with crossing-gate technology that delayed the opening of the G-Line and required flaggers at active rail crossings on the A- and B-Lines for more than two years. In a ruling issued Feb. 10, Denver District Judge Andrew P. McCallin, who presided over a late-2020 civil trial, found that DTP had shouldered the risk that it would face difficulties winning regulatory approval for the problem-plagued warning system.The judge, at the same time, also rejected RTD’s counter-claims for $27 million in damages.The contracting team’s lawyers have asked the Colorado Court of Appeals to review some of the judge’s findings and interpretations of the partnership contract.Related ArticlesT...